Shows
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 91 - Stern's Dark Age: Pinball in the 2000sSupport the show & get a link to our private discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis episode features former guest on the show, and dot matrix pinball programmer Greg Dunlap to discuss how Gary Stern ends up surviving TWO pinball extinction events at the turn of the millennium, and then another one at the end of the decade.This is the only era in pinball's long history where there was only a single manufacturer in business. Gary made a lot of tough calls and hard decisions to keep pinball alive during this dark age, and contrary t...2025-07-141h 00
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 90 - Pinball Hindsight Awards 1990Support the show & get a link to our private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis is the first ever award show that attempts to get the calls right, all with the power of HINDSIGHT. So, for this first Pinball Hindsight Awards Episode, we chose the year 1990, and are giving out the test of time awards to games like Dr. Dude, Funhouse, Whirlwind, Rollergames and many more.Warning: adult language and no-no words are used for effect.Support the show2025-07-0742 min
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 89 - Die on this Hill: Star Wars Episode OneSupport the show and receive a link to our private discord server: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis episode Alan & Alex are joined on the show to discuss the short-lived Pinball 2000 platform, and Ian defends SWE1, the last game that Williams pinball ever made against a flood of bad reviews.I mention in this episode a fantastic documentary that you should check out, called TILT: The Battle to Save Pinball check it out to learn more about this incredible project.As always though: this is an adult show with adult language.Support the...2025-06-301h 03
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 88 - Pinball on LocationSupport the show and get a link to the private dischord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis episode is all about why pinball's natural habitat is on location, and why location pinball still matters (and matters much more than private collections) in the year 2025 and beyond. Our whole podcast is basically centered around the importance of pinball being put on location, but this episode in particular is a love letter to on location pinball ...with swearing.Support the show2025-06-2341 min
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 87 - Pinball is Supposed to be HARD!Support the show and receive a link to our private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis episode is all about the joys and fun that a hard game of pinball brings. For whatever reason this seems to be a minority opinion in the modern era, even though we set out to prove that pinball was always supposed to be hard, and that challenging games are way more fun in the long run.Obligatory naughty language warning. Support the show2025-06-1657 min
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 86 - Pinball Economics 101Support the show & receive a link to the private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis episode has been teased multiple times over the run of the show, and is a solo episode based upon what I started out writing as a short article about the business of location pinball, the economics of it, and the feasibility of pinball earning money on location. What started out as a short article quickly grew wider in scope, and eventually I just felt like it would make a better podcast episode rather than an article.If you like this e...2025-06-0953 min
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 85 - Die on this Hill: Future SpaSupport the show & get a link to our private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastGood friend of the show and all-around expert solid state assassin, Ty Palmer joins us on the show once again for his SIXTH appearance to defend his DOTH game, 1979's Future Spa.Designed by George Christian and released by Bally in their golden era, this game is a super wide body with a very weird and very horny art package, but it's also a game that is widely mocked. At least it was, until this episode where Ty sets the record...2025-06-0233 min
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 84 - The Bally Table King: George ChristianSupport the show & receive a link to the private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis episode is all about the mystery and mystique surrounding Bally's best game designer from their early solid state golden era, previously covered in our Susan B. Anthony Years episode.And just like last time, we are joined by local Solid-State assassin and good friend Ty Palmer to discuss what is all of our favorite designer from this era. For a guy that designed some of the best-selling games of all time, during the pinball's peak era you would think that t...2025-05-261h 02
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 83 - Soft LicensesSupport the show and get a link to the private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis episode we discuss Stern pinball's interesting way of approaching certain licensed games that they make, including their recent games Dungeons & Dragons and King Kong, before we dive into the differences with their earlier Marvel games like Spider Man, Iron Man, or Avengers to what they make nowadays with Deadpool, X-Men, Venom or Avengers (the second time).Roger Sharpe used a phrase called a "Soft License" to denote a licensed game in which the licensor gives a ton of freedom...2025-05-1950 min
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 82 - Pinball ShowsSupport the show & get a link to our private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastThis episode was written by Alex, about how to get the most out of a Pinball Show. As the popularity of pinball has grown in the last 5-10 years, so too have the number of Pinball Shows/Expos/Conventions, and there is probably one near you too.Shows can be overwhelming, so listen to Alex & Alan discuss their tips for getting the most out of your weekend!Warning: We are badboys, and so we use badboy language. Su...2025-05-1243 min
Wedgehead Pinball PodcastEpisode 81 - Die on this Hill: South ParkSupport the show and join the private discord channel: ko-fi.com/wedgeheadpodcastIn this edition of DOTH, Marcus Petersen from the previous episode about creating a pinball scene in a rural town, is back to defend his love for Sega's final pinball machine: 1999's South Park.I am sure everybody has heard of the show at this point, but this game was released after the first two seasons of the show. The pinball machine is nowhere near as well loved as the IP it's based upon, which is we are covering it as Marcus' Die...2025-05-0543 min